Bay Bridge looked a star in the making with a brilliant performance in the Coral Brigadier Gerard Stakes at Sandown Park.
A fine 2021 had seen Michael Stoute's charge unbeaten in four outings, culminating in a Listed victory at Newmarket in October having started the campaign in a novice event before moving to handicap company.
A 7-4 chance for his first Pattern-race assignment, Ryan Moore gave the four-year-old New Bay colt a patient ride as Addeybb took them along.
Favourite Mostahdaf loomed up looking to be going particularly sweetly three out – but just as soon as he took over Moore had the move covered and it was effectively all over once Bay Bridge was given the office a furlong from home.
He simply swept clear, accounting for Mostahdaf by five lengths to give Stoute – who has the favourite for the Derby in Desert Crown – a 12th success in the Group Three contest.
Bay Bridge bolts up in the Coral Brigadier Gerard Stakes!
— Sandown Park (@Sandownpark) May 26, 2022
A dominant performance from a seriously exciting racehorse for Sir Michael Stoute and Ryan Moore 🥇@Coral pic.twitter.com/s7TAU8br65
James Wigan, who owns the winner in company with Ballylinch Stud, said: "He is such a big, strong boy that we rather thought in the paddock that he might need the race, so we are particularly pleased.
"We have always thought a lot of him and Sir Michael’s been very complimentary about him, so it is a very nice surprise.
"I think everybody is pleased with that. Until they run, you don’t know (how fit they are).
"He is in the Prince of Wales’s and the Hardwicke. We will ask Sir Michael what he thinks, but I think we will will probably be inclined to stick to a mile and a quarter at the moment. I think we would have thought he would go to Group One level, and he has won a Group Three with some good horses in the race today.
"Ryan said he did it well and showed a good turn of foot. He didn’t have to get too serious with him and he is a very exciting prospect.
"What excited me was the way he quickened away from good horses. He was sitting there going easily and you could see Ryan did not want to expose him too early and he was keeping him in. There was obviously something in the tank and he didn’t know what."
Tom Marquand was at his brilliant best as Quickthorn (11-4F) repelled all challengers in the Coral Henry II Stakes.
The jockey opted to be wide of runners down the middle of the track in the very early stages, with Thunderous and Nate The Great on the rail, before he took the outright lead in the two-mile affair.
Hughie Morrison's five-year-old – who had given Princess Zoe a real fright in the Sagaro Stakes at Ascot – was strongly pressed by Hollie Doyle and Nate The Great, but refused to buckle and was a length and three-quarters to the good at the line.
Rodrigo Diaz was another three-quarters of a length back in third.
Quickthorn is brave as a lion! 🦁
— Sandown Park (@Sandownpark) May 26, 2022
An heroic display under a masterful Tom Marquand lands the Group 3 Coral Henry II Stakes for Hughie Morrison 🏆@Coral @TomMarquand pic.twitter.com/kWvEnJnhec
Morrison said: "Tom said the ground was quick enough for him today. He was not enjoying it going down the hill. I think the autumn is his life. On that performance, it is worth going to the top level again, but we didn’t put him in the Gold Cup. My error – but I’m not sure it is, as there is a the likelihood of fast ground.
"He loved the ground at Ascot last year when he won and I doubt we will get that ground anyhow."
Royal Ascot looks to be on the agenda for Maria Branwell (3-1), who took advantage of the 5lb fillies' allowance to land the Coral National Stakes by a neck.
The David O’Meara-trained daughter of James Garfield overcame greenness on debut to take a 15-runner Thirsk maiden on her debut 12 days previously and backed that up with an eyecatching second run.
Danny Tudhope’s mount showed her inexperience in the early stages as the odds-on Crispy Cat, who had been short-headed by the smart Blackbeard in a Listed race at the Curragh last time, set a good tempo.
Maria Branwell was a little slowly into her stride in the Listed five-furlong contest, but once finding her stride two furlongs out, she picked up nicely and wore down Ross Ryan’s mount in the final 200 yards.
The pair drew six and a half lengths clear of Rumstar, and Tudhope was rightly impressed.
A thrilling edition of the Coral National Stakes goes to Maria Branwell!
— Sandown Park (@Sandownpark) May 26, 2022
Crispy Cat looked to have the race won - however, the winner who was very green got the hang of things in the final furlong to win for Danny Tudhope and David O'Meara 🚀 @Coral @omeararacing pic.twitter.com/aAyksvBfXm
He said: "This was only her second start and she is still learning. She was up against the boys today.
"I sat on her at home a few weeks ago and she has taken a nice step forward. She gave me a nice feel going down to the start. I liked her.
"She has a great attitude, good temperament and is a very likeable filly in the way she did her work in the last furlong. I’m sure she will get six furlongs.
"She was a little bit outpaced and off her feet in the first few furlongs but she came good halfway and picked up great, really good, and I was always confident I was going to get there."
